Lake Zurich Culver's feeds hundreds for Thanksgiving

Hundreds of Northwest suburban families came together Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving as a community affair at Culver's of Lake Zurich.

Each year, the franchise off Rand Road treats more than 400 people to a free Thanksgiving Day feast.

For Sandra Olugbode of McHenry, it's become a family tradition bringing together her grandmother, mother, three daughters, husband and sister-in-law at the restaurant table.

"It's so much easier," she said. "A lot of people come out. We like it because not a lot of times we have the money to fix a whole big meal. A lot of people look forward to this. It's a beautiful thing."

And the best part is, "no cleaning for me ... no dishes," she added.

For Cary resident Tara Nielsen, it was easier spending Thanksgiving with her family at Culver's because she had to work the Black Friday shift at nearby Kohl's starting Thursday evening.

"I wanted to get dinner and some rest before work," she said.

Aside from the convenience, she said, "they were all really nice."

"Even though they were crowded, the way that they made everything go so smoothly, you didn't realize it," Nielsen said.

More than 50 volunteers from Peace Lutheran Church, Northwest Family Community Church, St. Peter United Church of Christ, St. Frances de Sales and Long Grove Community Church help pull off the event.

"My family has been coming here probably for the past three years," said volunteer Shea Lewis, 22, of Long Grove. "We think that everybody should have a great holiday."

It's a tradition franchise owner Steve Anichini, of Mundelein, has kept up for 12 years since the store opened. It started out with Anichini and his wife and just a couple of local churches.

"The community comes through together and gives back," he said. "It started out with a few adults and throughout the years, families are coming together to do something good on Thanksgiving. Our traditional feast not only provides a home-cooked meal, but also someone to share the holiday with for those who are spending it alone. "Serving people a warm meal always makes for a wonderful afternoon of fun and celebration, and bringing the community together in the process makes the day even more special," Anichini said.

Each church donated 80 pounds of turkey and trimmings, including stuffing, dinner rolls, corn and potatoes, while Culver's served frozen yogurt for dessert.

In 12 years, organizers haven't run out of food, said Marlene Kaper, a member of Alpine Chapel in Lake Zurich, who has been involved with organizing the feast since the beginning.

Typically, leftovers are donated to local church food pantries and sent home with families.

"Today, we have an abundance of turkey," Kaper said.